Picture mat



H. A. PREW PICTURE MAT May 22, 1934.

v Filed Feb. l5, 1934 WWI`l` t ,1

INVENToR. 19/'Vey .//D/eh 'SYM m ATTORNEYS.,

Patented May 22, 1934 PICTURE MAT Harvey A. Brew, Providence, R. l.

Application February 16,

(C1. llll-152) 4 Claims.

This invention relates to a mat for mounting a picture in a ltrame; and has for its object to pro- Vide a mat which will be of enhanced ornamental appearance.

Another object of the invention is the pro-vision of a mat having a sight opening with the edges of the opening strengthened and protected against abuse in handling or framing the picture.

Another object oi the invention is the provision of a picture frame and mat in which the bordering edge oi the sight opening of the mat will be of the same appearance as the outer frame that the two may harmonize in appearance and conform to the same ornamental theme.

Another object oi the invention is the provision of a bordering strip of this character which may be simple and inexpensively formed and secured to the mat for enhancing the appearance thereof.

A further object of the invention is the provision of a strip along the inner edge of the mat opening which may be extended to provide ornamental congurations at the corners or junctions of the straight sides of the opening and which may be carried out to the desired extent and terminate in the appearance desired.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists of certain novel features of construction, as will be more fully described, and

particularly pointed out in the appended claims.

In the accompanying drawing:

Fig. 1 is a face View of a picture frame with a picture mounted therein illustrating the mat with my improvement provided thereon.

Fig. 2 is a perspective view of the mat with my improved strip along the edge oi the sight opening.

Fig. 3 is a sectional view on line 3--3 of Figure 2.

Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the strip which is to be provided along the edge of sight opening.

Fig. 5 is a perspective View of the strip, after being bent into the form necessary for applying it to the edge of the sight opening.

Fig. 6 is a perspective View of the iragmental portion of the mat illustrating the back of the mat and the position of the rear wall of the channel strip thereon.

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a iragmental portion of the mat illustrating a modified form of strip provided with mitered corners.

Fig. Sis a perspective view of a fragmental portion of the mat showing a modified form of strip extending beyond the corner and to the outer edge blanked out the Vof the mat.

1934, serai eric In the use oi picture frames, a mat is usually provided as the picture mats are us a border about the marginal edge of in the frame with a sight opening be viewed. Such ually covered along so that if slightly disiigured on this outer edge where covered, the mat may still be used. Along the inner edge, however,

the usual mat has no protection and should it become dented or scratched, it cannot be used, as this portion is wholly exposed, and in handling large of mats, such injury may take place.

which prese quantities The mat important part of a picture nts an has had little or no ornamentation thereon, and

in order that the mat may set oi the pi be more eiectivc to cture, I have provided a channel strip to contrast with the picture or the mat to provide a more attractivev entire unit; and in protected as well of the sight opening, I have in channel form to cases I may order that a mat may be as ornamented along the edge provided a metal strip t over this edge, and in some extend the wall which overlies the so as to form a design for on the face oi the mat,

and this structure is provided by blanking out strips and folding them in a very simple operation which may be performed economically and in multiple operations; and the following is a more detailed description of the present embodin ment of this invention illustrating the preferred means by which these advantageous results may be accomplished:

With reference to the drawing, 10 designates a picture rame within which there is placed from the back a mat 11 is placed a picture and in back of this mat there 12 of a size greater than the opening in the mat and which is held engaging the frame 10 in any usual manner.

This frame,

the mat and its sight opening I have illustrated as of rectangular form,

shape may,

This mat although any suitable of course, be provided.

11 may be formed of any suitable and is cut out to provide a sight opening 13 of rectangular shape providing opposite edges 14 along its length and 15 across its end.

These edges 14 and 15 are provided with protecting and also ornamental strips of rial, for example first blanked out as relatively stiiic or rigid matesuch as metal.

Some

when the shape, as shown in Figure 4, is to be used, and is then bent as shown in Figure 5, to

provide a front wall 17, a rear wall 18 and connecting por tion 19 joining the front and rear their outer edge i The strip is designated 16 in Figure 4,

walls 17 and 18. This strip will be of various lengths depending upon the length of the side upon which it is to be mounted. The distance between the front and rear walls 17 and 18 is such as to snugly fit the mat 1l and when positioned thereon the connecting portion 19 will extend along the edge of the opening 13. The front wall 17 will extend over and along the marginal edge about the opening' 13 and the portion 18 will extend over and along the rear surface of the marginal edge of the opening 13 of the mat 1l to enea-se this edge and prevent it from being injured by any abuse to which it may be subjected, while at the same time I have also provided an ornamental portion contrasting with the front face of the mat 11 and setting 01T and enhancing the appearance of the same.

In the unit which I provide, I frequently choose to use a metal main frame le and a metal strip 25 of the same material so that there will be a harmonizing strip between this strip and the outer frame with the contrasting portion of the mat 11 between and in some cases the mat may be ornamented by a similar metal colored marking 2G which will be of a color to conforin to the ornamental theme of the metal frame and the bordering strip such as I have just described. In fact, this marking may be of the saine color as the metal for this purpose. I thus provide a metal frame having a rnat with a fairly wide metal frame and a similar strip of a more restricted width directly about the picture which ornaments as well as strengthens the edge as above mentioned.

As I have illustrated in Figures 1 to 6 inelusive, the front wall of this strip as extended beyond the length of the opening along which it extends, and consequently beyond the connecting portion 19. This extension portion of the front wall is designated 2l and is mitered as at 22 at its end, and with relation to the adjacent strip, it extends beyond and crosses the right angularly extending strip along the adjacent edge of the rectangular or polygonal opening, so that the strip along the edge 14 will extend beyond the strip along the edge 15 of the opening and across the saine by one of the extensions 21 extending over and the other extension extending under this portion 21.

I have also illustrated in Figure 2- that the extension stops short of the marginal outer edge of the mat, while in Figure 8, the extension 23 extends to the marginal edge of the rnat. In Figure 7, however', I have shown the front walls as mitered as at 24 so that they abut at the corner rather than extending over or under the corresponding portion.

The foregoing description is directed solely towards the construction illustrated, but I desire it to be understood that I reserve the privilege of resorting to all thev mechanical changes to which the device is susceptible, the invention being dened and limited only by the terms of the appended claims.

I claim:

l. In a picture frame, a mat having a sight opening and a strip of relatively stirl material extending along the inner edge of said opening, said strip being channel shape with its opposite walls extending a short distance over the front and rear surfaces of said mat.

2. A picture franie mat having a sight opening of polygonal shape with straight edges, a channel shape strip extending along each straight edge and having opposite walls extending over the front and rear faces of the mat and the wall of each strip being of a length greater than said connecting portion to cross and extend beyond a corresponding portion of the strip along an adjacent straight edge or" said polygonal opening.

In a picture frame, a mat having a polygonal sight opening, a frame about the outer edge of said mat and strips extending along the inner edge of said opening of the saine iaterial as the frame about the outer edge and crossing each other at their corners.

fi. In a picture frame, a cardboard inat having a rectangular sight opening, a metal frame about 'the outer edge of said mat, and metal strips extending along the inner edge of said opening or" the saine metal as the frame about the outer edge and crossing each other at the corners.

HARVEY A. PREW. 

